Physician Assistants pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,790 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Chattanooga earn between $103,700 and $132,690.
- $100K10th
- $104K25th
- $122KMedian
- $133K75th
- $141K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,560 | $9,963 | $57.48 |
| Median | $121,600 | $10,133 | $58.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,700 | $8,642 | $49.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,690 | $11,058 | $63.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($117,300) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $119,560 | $121,600 | $99,530 | $140,790 | 180 |
| Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 | $93,380 | $141,670 | 2,240 |
| United States | $141,280 | $135,880 | $99,380 | $190,280 | 162,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physician Assistants salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $119,560, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $92,940 a year, or $7,745 a month and $3,575 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $92,940 | $7,745 |
| Working in GA | $87,723 | $7,310 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $119,560 buys what about $130,718 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($124,670).
- Nashville$124,670
- Memphis$120,440
- Clarksville$119,790
- Chattanooga$119,560
- Kingsport$117,710
- Knoxville$112,760
- Johnson City$109,060
- Jackson$108,210
- Morristown$106,000
Highest-paying cities for physician assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($207,660).
- San Jose, CA$207,660
- Salinas, CA$202,320
- San Francisco, CA$182,610
- Vallejo, CA$182,520
- Bakersfield, CA$177,840
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Physician Assistants salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Chattanooga?
$57.48 an hour on average, and $58.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $92,940 a year ($7,745 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,560. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do physician assistants earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1071; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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